Episode 41. I'll have to look past what I can see
“No, really, how could you do that?”
"That's what I'm saying! You treated Madam so coldly. How can you be so kind to Doana?"
“I heard from rumors that the Count is very picky when it comes to choosing a spouse.”
“I heard that too!”
The maids were very confused.
It was a remarkably gentle attitude, unlike Tercia's usual approach to Rose. It was incomprehensible. Rose, though fallen, was still of noble blood, a noblewoman of noble birth, while Doana was nothing more than a commoner, a "maid." So why would Tercia welcome Doana?
“I’ll greet you properly. My name is Doana.”
Doana, wearing Rose's dress, bowed over her shoulder in the noble manner she'd learned. Tercia looked at Doana with tenderness.
“Yes, Doana. Feel free to call me Mother.”
“Oh, is that okay, Mom?”
Doana smiled brightly at Tercia, who smiled at her. Unlike the friendly atmosphere between Doana and Tercia, Eric and Cedric, who were standing next to them, had very sullen expressions.
'Why on earth is my mother acting like that?'
Even he, her son, was quite surprised by Tercia's behavior. It was worse than what she did to Rose, if anything, but he didn't know it could be less... Eric couldn't shake the suspicion in his eyes. Tercia, who had been smiling at Doana, inwardly clicked her tongue at Eric's suspicious gaze.
'Tsk, what a frown you're making. You look exactly like your dad.'
Eric's thoughts were clearly revealed. Tercia offered her congratulations first, hoping to gauge Eric's feelings for Doana.
“No, really, how could you do that?”
"That's what I'm saying! You treated Madam so coldly. How can you be so kind to Doana?"
“I heard from rumors that the Count is very picky when it comes to choosing a spouse.”
“I heard that too!”
The maids were very confused.
It was a remarkably gentle attitude, unlike Tercia's usual approach to Rose. It was incomprehensible. Rose, though fallen, was still of noble blood, a noblewoman of noble birth, while Doana was nothing more than a commoner, a "maid." So why would Tercia welcome Doana?
The maids, engaged in a debate that wasn't really a debate, came to a single conclusion.
“...I wonder if it’s because of the baby?”
“I guess there is no other answer than that.”
"Still, it's strange. She was so angry and vehement when Madam was pregnant, but why is she so kind to Doana?"
“Did you ever feel the value of your grandchild after Madam had a miscarriage?”
No matter how much they thought about it, there was no way to explain Tercia's behavior other than as a 'child'.
“Still, that’s ridiculous... I thought everything would be resolved if the former Countess came...”
When Tercia, their last hope for defeating Doana, failed them, they couldn't hide their deep sadness. The head maid, who had been quietly listening to this entire story, closed her eyes and spoke softly.
"If the former Countess has acknowledged Doana... we have no choice. If you don't want to be fired, you should all act cautiously from now on."
She didn't want to admit it, but it seemed like God was on Doana's side. Until then, the head maid had resented God.
“...I wonder if it’s because of the baby?”
“I guess there is no other answer than that.”
"Still, it's strange. She was so angry and vehement when Madam was pregnant, but why is she so kind to Doana?"
“Did you ever feel the value of your grandchild after Madam had a miscarriage?”
No matter how much they thought about it, there was no way to explain Tercia's behavior other than as a 'child'.
“Still, that’s ridiculous... I thought everything would be resolved if the former Countess came...”
When Tercia, their last hope for defeating Doana, failed them, they couldn't hide their deep sadness. The head maid, who had been quietly listening to this entire story, closed her eyes and spoke softly.
"If the former Countess has acknowledged Doana... we have no choice. If you don't want to be fired, you should all act cautiously from now on."
She didn't want to admit it, but it seemed like God was on Doana's side. Until then, the head maid had resented God.
***
“I’ll greet you properly. My name is Doana.”
Doana, wearing Rose's dress, bowed over her shoulder in the noble manner she'd learned. Tercia looked at Doana with tenderness.
“Yes, Doana. Feel free to call me Mother.”
“Oh, is that okay, Mom?”
Doana smiled brightly at Tercia, who smiled at her. Unlike the friendly atmosphere between Doana and Tercia, Eric and Cedric, who were standing next to them, had very sullen expressions.
'Why on earth is my mother acting like that?'
Even he, her son, was quite surprised by Tercia's behavior. It was worse than what she did to Rose, if anything, but he didn't know it could be less... Eric couldn't shake the suspicion in his eyes. Tercia, who had been smiling at Doana, inwardly clicked her tongue at Eric's suspicious gaze.
'Tsk, what a frown you're making. You look exactly like your dad.'
Eric's thoughts were clearly revealed. Tercia offered her congratulations first, hoping to gauge Eric's feelings for Doana.
“Congratulations. I heard you’re finally having a baby.”
"... Yes."
Eric looked at Tercia with a trembling expression.
"You should brighten up your appearance. Don't you think you should show your family a happy family life?"
Eric's brow furrowed in amusement at the mention of "new baby." He finally blurted out the words he had been holding back.
“What are you planning this time, Mother?”
When Eric showed signs of discomfort, Tercia opened her fan and burst into laughter.
"Look at this kid. What's this mom's ulterior motive? I'm just happy to have a grandchild."
“That’s because your reaction is so different from when Rose was pregnant.”
"Son. Could you please stop bringing up that heartbreaking story? My heart still pounds whenever I think about it."
Of course, she was happy. She didn't want to share her son's bloodline with someone as lowly as Rose. Of course, she hated it even more as a lowly maid. Tercia looked at Doana, who was sitting next to her son.
“But how did your pretty face end up like this?”
"Eric's ex-wife, out of spite, made this face of mine. I truly believed she was a good person..."
Doana made up a story that didn't even exist and shed tears in front of Tercia and Cedric.
'Tsk, this sly vixen bit my son.'
Cedric, who knew the inside story of the incident, was astonished at Doana's nonchalant attitude of lying.
"Oh, I see. That's terrible. That kid was always a bit strange. I didn't like her for a reason. Look, she ended up doing it."
Tercia scolded Eric, saying that it wasn't bad to listen to adults. Doana hated Rose and was very pleased with Tercia's affection for her.
'Wow, you're the heroine, but you're a woman who doesn't get love from your husband or your mother-in-law?'
Why on earth was Rose the main character? Doana found Rose's situation so funny.
'You said you didn't read it all the way through. So the main character wasn't Rose, but me?'
She never heard or saw a protagonist who wasn't loved. It's always been expected of a protagonist to be loved by everyone, just like Doana now. A daughter-in-law beloved by a handsome husband and wealthy in-laws.
'Rose got divorced and kicked out!'
Her heart pounded for some reason. It felt like she was really the main character in this story.
"I had a bad feeling about Rose from the moment I first saw her. You were the same way. You said she looked exactly like her mother, and it bothered you."
Tercia spoke to Cedric, who was sitting next to her. The sting of her words was probably not an illusion. Tercia knew that Cedric's first love was Rivera, Rose's mother. She wasn't foolish enough not to realize that he had been dumped by Rivera and had reluctantly married her. That's why Tercia hated Rose even more.
"... Yes."
Eric looked at Tercia with a trembling expression.
"You should brighten up your appearance. Don't you think you should show your family a happy family life?"
Eric's brow furrowed in amusement at the mention of "new baby." He finally blurted out the words he had been holding back.
“What are you planning this time, Mother?”
When Eric showed signs of discomfort, Tercia opened her fan and burst into laughter.
"Look at this kid. What's this mom's ulterior motive? I'm just happy to have a grandchild."
“That’s because your reaction is so different from when Rose was pregnant.”
"Son. Could you please stop bringing up that heartbreaking story? My heart still pounds whenever I think about it."
Of course, she was happy. She didn't want to share her son's bloodline with someone as lowly as Rose. Of course, she hated it even more as a lowly maid. Tercia looked at Doana, who was sitting next to her son.
“But how did your pretty face end up like this?”
"Eric's ex-wife, out of spite, made this face of mine. I truly believed she was a good person..."
Doana made up a story that didn't even exist and shed tears in front of Tercia and Cedric.
'Tsk, this sly vixen bit my son.'
Cedric, who knew the inside story of the incident, was astonished at Doana's nonchalant attitude of lying.
"Oh, I see. That's terrible. That kid was always a bit strange. I didn't like her for a reason. Look, she ended up doing it."
Tercia scolded Eric, saying that it wasn't bad to listen to adults. Doana hated Rose and was very pleased with Tercia's affection for her.
'Wow, you're the heroine, but you're a woman who doesn't get love from your husband or your mother-in-law?'
Why on earth was Rose the main character? Doana found Rose's situation so funny.
'You said you didn't read it all the way through. So the main character wasn't Rose, but me?'
She never heard or saw a protagonist who wasn't loved. It's always been expected of a protagonist to be loved by everyone, just like Doana now. A daughter-in-law beloved by a handsome husband and wealthy in-laws.
'Rose got divorced and kicked out!'
Her heart pounded for some reason. It felt like she was really the main character in this story.
"I had a bad feeling about Rose from the moment I first saw her. You were the same way. You said she looked exactly like her mother, and it bothered you."
Tercia spoke to Cedric, who was sitting next to her. The sting of her words was probably not an illusion. Tercia knew that Cedric's first love was Rivera, Rose's mother. She wasn't foolish enough not to realize that he had been dumped by Rivera and had reluctantly married her. That's why Tercia hated Rose even more.
She hated the sight of the women in that family, who, not only betrayed their father, but also bewitched their sons. The only way to repay Rivera's past was to abuse her daughter, Rose. When Rivera's story came up, Cedric coughed a couple of times and awkwardly agreed.
“That’s right.”
Although she didn't like Cedric's ambiguous reaction, she decided to let it slide for the sake of acting in front of Doana.
“You have no idea how happy I am that you, and not Rose, are the one giving birth to my grandchild.”
Tercia said, stroking Doana's hand.
“If anything bothers you in the future, please let me know at any time.”
“Yes, Mother. I will.”
Doana was foolishly excited, not even realizing that Tercia's actions were a pretense.
“Can I call you father?”
Doana looked at Cedric with a charming voice, as if she were thinking of scoring points with him too.
“Father, what...”
"What kind of father are you!" Cedric was about to say, but Tercia pinched his thigh and stopped him. Tercia glared at him with a menacing look. "You have to play along with your wife's whims." Despite his reluctance, Cedric nodded.
'It seems like the real power in this family is the mother.'
Doana chuckled inwardly, watching Cedric, speechless after being teased by Tercia. The most powerful man in the family had such a fondness for her. It didn't matter if Cedric, the second-in-command, didn't like her.
“Oh, right. Shouldn’t we start the wedding soon?”
'Wedding ceremony!'
Doana's eyes widened at the mention of a wedding, and she looked at Tercia.
'You really like me, don't you? You even brought up the topic of weddings right away.'
Doana's already bright face was now even more radiant. She looked at Tercia with sparkling eyes.
“That’s right.”
Although she didn't like Cedric's ambiguous reaction, she decided to let it slide for the sake of acting in front of Doana.
“You have no idea how happy I am that you, and not Rose, are the one giving birth to my grandchild.”
Tercia said, stroking Doana's hand.
“If anything bothers you in the future, please let me know at any time.”
“Yes, Mother. I will.”
Doana was foolishly excited, not even realizing that Tercia's actions were a pretense.
“Can I call you father?”
Doana looked at Cedric with a charming voice, as if she were thinking of scoring points with him too.
“Father, what...”
"What kind of father are you!" Cedric was about to say, but Tercia pinched his thigh and stopped him. Tercia glared at him with a menacing look. "You have to play along with your wife's whims." Despite his reluctance, Cedric nodded.
'It seems like the real power in this family is the mother.'
Doana chuckled inwardly, watching Cedric, speechless after being teased by Tercia. The most powerful man in the family had such a fondness for her. It didn't matter if Cedric, the second-in-command, didn't like her.
“Oh, right. Shouldn’t we start the wedding soon?”
'Wedding ceremony!'
Doana's eyes widened at the mention of a wedding, and she looked at Tercia.
'You really like me, don't you? You even brought up the topic of weddings right away.'
Doana's already bright face was now even more radiant. She looked at Tercia with sparkling eyes.
“We should have a wedding. The position of ‘Countess’ is empty.”
Doana closed her eyes at Tercia, emphasizing the word "Countess." Tercia smiled wryly at Doana's appearance.
'It's not good to be greedy when you have nothing.'
She has to see what she can get away with. She heard rumors, but Doana's blatant covetousness of the Countess's position was incredibly ridiculous. Tercia, intent on teasing Doana, delved deeper into the topic of the wedding.
"Yes, Eric. We can't leave the Countess's seat empty."
“It doesn’t really matter if it’s empty.”
It had only been a day since he kicked Rose out. Bringing up the subject of marriage so soon felt tiring.
"Oh my. What are you talking about? Why did I get you married so quickly? You were destined to die young without a spouse. I couldn't sleep last night because I was so anxious after hearing the news."
'You still believe such a flimsy lie?'
Eric found Tercia and Cedric, who had fallen for his lies, laughable. He had longed for independence from an early age, to escape his abusive father. Unwilling to leave home with nothing, he bribed someone to lie. And surprisingly, his parents fell for Eric's lies without a trace. What parent would calmly weigh every detail when their child's life is at stake?
Doana closed her eyes at Tercia, emphasizing the word "Countess." Tercia smiled wryly at Doana's appearance.
'It's not good to be greedy when you have nothing.'
She has to see what she can get away with. She heard rumors, but Doana's blatant covetousness of the Countess's position was incredibly ridiculous. Tercia, intent on teasing Doana, delved deeper into the topic of the wedding.
"Yes, Eric. We can't leave the Countess's seat empty."
“It doesn’t really matter if it’s empty.”
It had only been a day since he kicked Rose out. Bringing up the subject of marriage so soon felt tiring.
"Oh my. What are you talking about? Why did I get you married so quickly? You were destined to die young without a spouse. I couldn't sleep last night because I was so anxious after hearing the news."
'You still believe such a flimsy lie?'
Eric found Tercia and Cedric, who had fallen for his lies, laughable. He had longed for independence from an early age, to escape his abusive father. Unwilling to leave home with nothing, he bribed someone to lie. And surprisingly, his parents fell for Eric's lies without a trace. What parent would calmly weigh every detail when their child's life is at stake?
Thanks to this, Eric easily inherited power and achieved independence. Of course, it wasn't the "perfect" independence he desired. Unaware of Eric's true intentions to break free, Tercia continued to spout hypocrisy.
"Even if I offered you another woman besides Rose, you stubbornly refused. And in the end, you ended up divorcing. They say fate has its own way of doing things. Just like Doana becoming pregnant with your child. In the end, Eric's fate wasn't with Rose, but with you."
“Oh my, Mother. I’m so touched.”
Doana blinked at Tercia's words and smiled happily.
"Even if I offered you another woman besides Rose, you stubbornly refused. And in the end, you ended up divorcing. They say fate has its own way of doing things. Just like Doana becoming pregnant with your child. In the end, Eric's fate wasn't with Rose, but with you."
“Oh my, Mother. I’m so touched.”
Doana blinked at Tercia's words and smiled happily.
“Let’s start the meal tomorrow.”
"Tomorrow? There must be more than a few things to prepare. Will that be okay? I don't even have a wedding dress."
"What's wrong with a wedding dress? There are plenty of places that will make one for me in a day if I just ask."
Doana couldn't help but feel excited at the thought that she could become a Countess starting tomorrow.
“Oh my, my heart is pounding, Mom.”
“Heart-fluttering? What do you mean?”
“I’m so excited that my heart is pounding.”
“Haha. Maybe it’s because you’re from a humble background that you say such strange things.”
Tercia groaned and closed her eyes. Doana doubted her ears for a moment.
“Oh, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I was just curious.”
“Ah... yes, mother.”
She felt a bit awkward, but she thought it was just a slip of the tongue. What mattered was that Eric's mother accepted her as her daughter-in-law.
"Eric, the ceremony will be held tomorrow at noon, so please understand. I'll go make invitations to send to everyone, so you can have a good time with your new baby."
Eric nodded indifferently at Tercia's words. He was deeply annoyed by Doana and Tercia's chattering next to him. It was obvious that even if he said no, she would lead him into the wedding hall.
“Yew, honey. See you tomorrow.”
“Oh, Mom, what about my dress?”
"Oh my. Come on. I almost forgot about the dress. I'll send the designer over later. You just stand there and take the measurements."
“Yes, I will.”
Doana nodded with a familiar expression. Tercia burst out laughing at Doana's appearance. She linked arms with Cedric and left Eric's room. It wasn't until the next day that Doana learned she wasn't the bride at the wedding.
"Tomorrow? There must be more than a few things to prepare. Will that be okay? I don't even have a wedding dress."
"What's wrong with a wedding dress? There are plenty of places that will make one for me in a day if I just ask."
Doana couldn't help but feel excited at the thought that she could become a Countess starting tomorrow.
“Oh my, my heart is pounding, Mom.”
“Heart-fluttering? What do you mean?”
“I’m so excited that my heart is pounding.”
“Haha. Maybe it’s because you’re from a humble background that you say such strange things.”
Tercia groaned and closed her eyes. Doana doubted her ears for a moment.
“Oh, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I was just curious.”
“Ah... yes, mother.”
She felt a bit awkward, but she thought it was just a slip of the tongue. What mattered was that Eric's mother accepted her as her daughter-in-law.
"Eric, the ceremony will be held tomorrow at noon, so please understand. I'll go make invitations to send to everyone, so you can have a good time with your new baby."
Eric nodded indifferently at Tercia's words. He was deeply annoyed by Doana and Tercia's chattering next to him. It was obvious that even if he said no, she would lead him into the wedding hall.
“Yew, honey. See you tomorrow.”
“Oh, Mom, what about my dress?”
"Oh my. Come on. I almost forgot about the dress. I'll send the designer over later. You just stand there and take the measurements."
“Yes, I will.”
Doana nodded with a familiar expression. Tercia burst out laughing at Doana's appearance. She linked arms with Cedric and left Eric's room. It wasn't until the next day that Doana learned she wasn't the bride at the wedding.
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